Get soil analyzed

A misnomer is defined as a name unsuitably or wrongly applied. An example of a misnomer may be the term “dumb as dirt.” Sometimes dirt is a lot smarter than we give it credit for.

We think if we put out a general fertilizer it will take care of the plants in our landscape. This is not always true because not all elemental plant needs are in a general fertilizer and depending on the soil pH not all elements in a fertilizer will be available to the plants.

At low acidity or high alkalinity soil ranges, elements like iron, manganese and magnesium may not be available to plants even though we put these elements out in the form of fertilizer. At soil pH extremes free ions of some applied elements are captured and bound by soil particles and so plants can’t get them.

The only way to know the characteristics of your soil is to have a soil analysis performed. This is what any commercial company or new homeowner should do when starting to care for a landscape. It will tell you the soil pH as well as the nutrient availability of phosphorus, calcium, potassium and magnesium.

Knowing this information helps you to know what nutrients may be deficient as well as which you can anticipate to be lacking. To learn more about submitting a soil sample for analysis, you can do a web search for UF extension soil testing. A soil analysis will help you to better manage your landscape and nutrient application. It will also help you realize that dirt isn’t that dumb after all.